Figments of my paradisehttps://nainathomasmusings.wordpress.com
Rantings of a wandering soulThu, 14 Dec 2017 02:06:49 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://nainathomasmusings.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/cropped-crochet-3.jpg?w=32Figments of my paradisehttps://nainathomasmusings.wordpress.com
3232The World of Clinical Research & Drug Developmenthttps://nainathomasmusings.wordpress.com/2017/05/18/the-world-of-clinical-research-drug-development/
https://nainathomasmusings.wordpress.com/2017/05/18/the-world-of-clinical-research-drug-development/#respondThu, 18 May 2017 19:42:25 +0000http://nainathomasmusings.wordpress.com/?p=99Continue reading "The World of Clinical Research & Drug Development"]]>Moving to a new locale and to one that has little pharma exposure was quite unique for me. I grew up in a household that constantly discussed medicines be it natural or synthetically made. The discussion ranged from each one’s advantages to disadvantages and the surrounding politics or lobbying.

Quite often, I end up being taken aback by questions put forward. “Do trials happen even now?” “Why would people subject themselves to experiments? It must done for remuneration or by force majeure?”

The concept of doing it for the advancement of medicine or believing in the science that works behind production of such medicine eludes common man even today. Well, the media doesn’t help either. Sensationalism rules the day.

Leaving aside the controversies (that will be discussion for another day) clinical trials are very relevant today, otherwise you would not have that medicine cabinet next to your bedside. Every small medication that you take has undergone rigorous testing though multiple phases. Each of these phases are heavily regulated by various laws, some local and some universal. To produce even the most common drug, say paracetamol, thousands of possible other drug molecules were rejected (read millions of hours spent on studying these failed molecules). The rate of rejection is so high that you rely on that one blockbuster drug to recoup all your lost investments. Hence the higher priced medicines in the market.

As a clinical research professional, you work behind the scenes, handling maybe one or more phases of a particular drug. Your presence is not discernible (except maybe to the company you work for and your colleagues) but your contribution makes huge impact in the lives of millions of people, irrespective of whether the drug succeeds or fails to reach the market.

So who are these behind-the-scenes people?

Keep coming back to know more!!!

]]>https://nainathomasmusings.wordpress.com/2017/05/18/the-world-of-clinical-research-drug-development/feed/0nainathomasNew country, new hobbies….https://nainathomasmusings.wordpress.com/2017/05/17/new-country-new-hobbies/
https://nainathomasmusings.wordpress.com/2017/05/17/new-country-new-hobbies/#commentsWed, 17 May 2017 18:19:43 +0000http://nainathomasmusings.wordpress.com/?p=49]]>Three months and 1 day later ——-

I somehow reached the conclusion that the reason I am not able to get a job is because I lack discipline.

I thought to myself “How does one go about learning discipline?”

My decision was to start crocheting, something I learnt on my own but couldn’t develop due to lack of time. Well, time is aplenty now! So crocheting it is!

For old time’s sake, I converted this tradition activity into a business project. Here’s how:

The project : Make a drawstring purse

Budget : $5 including overhead cost & overtime

Timeline : Project completion by Thursday, 18th May, 2017

Team-members : Interns only (Recruit SIL to string beads while its my turn to help in the kitchen. And why will she do this? Because internship provides much needed market experience )

Goal setting : SMART goals –

Specific & Measurable – Use 3 beads at a time to crochet

Achievable & Realistic – Complete a minimum of 2 rows per day

Time-bound – Complete project latest by Thursday 11 a.m

There you go. That’s how you keep your skills still alive. Career-break….. not for me!!!

P.S – I completed this project way before time with an additional component – A rose! Tried beaded rose too, that’s attached to the purse. I think it looks chic. What do you think? Check out the pics below. Everyone in the family loved it! Hope you do too…..

https://nainathomasmusings.wordpress.com/2017/05/17/new-country-new-hobbies/feed/2Crochet 1nainathomasThe Agony of a Job-seekerhttps://nainathomasmusings.wordpress.com/2017/05/16/the-agony-of-a-job-seeker/
https://nainathomasmusings.wordpress.com/2017/05/16/the-agony-of-a-job-seeker/#commentsTue, 16 May 2017 12:51:46 +0000http://nainathomasmusings.wordpress.com/?p=4]]>Until recently I was a busy office-goer who loved her job and enjoyed being independent. Life was good with its usual ups and downs with sprinklings of office politics and generous dose of good old girly gossips. And then life somehow took a turn. I had to move to a foreign country. It was exciting initially, starting a new life with your husband and settling in. Then came the need to work – to use my hard-earned skills & knowledge for the growth of the organisation, the economy & the country.

For starters, I thought it will be a cake-walk. After all, I am a well qualified, smart and experienced professional. How hard can it be to land a job?

Three months later, “Why did I even think job hunt will be easy? It never was, or was it?”

I have revamped my resume umpteen times, written millions of cover letters and continue to cold-call potential employers. The job hunt has not yet ended. My calls usually end on notes of being over-qualified, higher expected salary (even though I am willing to negotiate), and non availability of transportation (I can arrange my own, if need be).

It gets frustrating most of the time. Thing is, I don’t understand where I am going wrong or should I just blame it on the current economy. I have impeccable communication skills, excellent academic background, a determined hard-worker and can adapt to situations fast. I am absolutely sure that the mean computer generated algorithms used by job portals reject my resume way before recruiters can actually go through it!!!

I have only this to say, resumes can only give a glimpse of what the person has achieved so far. The values and knowledge that the person has, can be learnt only by meeting him in person. Diversity, in education and experience, can only benefit the organisation. Weren’t we taught this in schools?

One can never recruit the “perfect candidate”. Reach out to the imperfect individual who is passionate enough and constantly seeks to master his skills, eventually helping the organisation grow.